Sunday evening, after an eight month cruise, the Phoenix spacecraft blasted into the thin Martian atmosphere. As it slowed down, it unfurled its parachute, on the way to the surface. That’s standard procedure for a Martian landing. But this time, for the first time ever, someone was watching. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, using its HIRISE camera, snapped a photo of the newest member of the Martian space fleet as it plummeted to the surface. The result is specatular.

This amazing photograph makes it appear that the Phoenix spacecraft is parachuting directly into this huge crater. But that is just an effect of perspective. In reality, Phoenix landed miles in front of that crater, out on the bleak Martian arctic plains.

Another photo taken by the MRO orbiter on Monday shows Phoenix safely on the ground. At the top, you can just make out the solar panels arrayed on either side of the spacecraft. You can see how the Phoenix spacecraft thrusters blew away some of the fine dust, and left a darkened area where Phoenix touched down. And below that, you can see where the blackened heatshield (which protected Phoenix as it entered the atmosphere) crashed into the surface. And farther down, you can also see the backshell and white parachute, which were discarded as the Phoenix lander made its final approach.

And here is a photo from Phoenix itself, looking out across the arctic plains from ground level.

It is going to be fun following this mission over the next 3 to 6 months, as it digs into the Martian soil in a search for arctic ice.

A thunderstorm complex moving SE out of OK will slowly weaken as it moves into North TX.

A brief flare-up to severe levels is possible in the Red River counties during the next hour.

For the rest of the day:

The leading edge of the rain cooled air will continue to move slowly south and could serve as the focus for more thunderstorm development after 2pm. Upper support is pretty lame, so organized severe storms are not expected.

This is not a blog about global warming. We no longer need to argue whether or not global warming is real, but what its effects are on North Texas. I believe that statistics over the last few years are proving that rapid climate change is happening right in front of our eyes. Or perhaps it is just an anomoly that will soon balance out. Either way, the numbers are staggering and shocking.

Aside from recently seeing the warmest year ever for the entire Earth, the entire United States and North Texas; all-time heat records for big cities from California to New York; the two strongest hurricanes ever on record just a couple of years ago; severe weather outbreaks never before seen and the first tornado ever in Brooklyn, New York City; Aside from all that, there are amazing temperatures happening right here in the Metroplex.

As the moisture content of the air increases for whatever reason, the overnight low temperature has a very hard time falling. This is the first place we see the effects of a changing climate. Over the last few years, we have continued to consistently break records for the warmest overnight low temperature on many days. This year, we have already broken 8 of these daily records. The three most recent records happened on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings.

On Friday and Saturday mornings our low temperature was 80 degrees. That is the first time EVER that a May night has not dropped below 80 in the Metroplex. The first time ever and it happened two days in a row. That makes those two mornings the earliest 80 degree mornings in a North Texas season on record and the warmest May nights ever. Before this weekend, the earliest 80 degree morning in a season was not until June 9th.

About eight months ago, NASA launched a new spacecraft named Phoenix. Since then, it has been cruising toward a rendezvous with Mars, and it’s now just a week away from landing. On Sunday, May 25th it is set to land, but this one will be different. Unlike the Mars Rovers which landed near the equator in 2003, the Phoenix spacecraft will explore the Martian arctic.

Another difference – The twin rovers have each covered more than 5 miles in their historic trek, which against all odds, still contines 5 years later. But the Phoenix lander will be stationary. And because of its landing place in the polar regions, it is only expected to survive for 3 to 5 months. But it will be historic in its own way. Phoenix has an extendable arm, with a trenching tool on the end. It will dig into the Martian permafrost, and then examine the soil and ices under a microscope.

And here is a photo of an artist’s impression of what Phoenix will look like as it nears touchdown:

Ken Kalthoff did a story this afternoon on a Dallas link to the Martian spacecraft. A local professor built a spectroscope that will be used to analyze the spectrums, and determine the mineral content of the soils and ices that the trencher digs up. Here’s a link to Ken’s blog:

Warm, humid air is in place over North TX. Some low-grade thunderstorms are developing across the area, mainly south of I-20. These storms are not expected to become severe. By late afternoon, a dry line and cold front will approach North TX from the west. Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop along the dry line and move eastward this evening. By late tonight, a second round of heavy or severe storms could develop along the cold front NW of the metroplex, and move southeast into North TX around daybreak. We could see two rounds of severe weather over the next 24 hours.